Need some help with bad paint.....on the cheap

B

brazosdog02

New member
I have an old pickup that is a 2002 model (250,000 miles), black paint, and has been waxed maybe 7 times its whole life. Anyway, the paint is 'pretty good'...terrible by your standards probably. It has a lot of water spots, oxidation, some dime sized areas where the paint is 'crazing', etc. It is NOT peeling.



At any rate, we almost sold it but decided to keep it and I want to get something that is relatively easy to get the paint back into DECENT shape. I dont need show quality. I just need it better than it is and protected so it doesnt get worse. More importantly, i need to do it cheap. I need to do it for 150 or less, tools included. Can I go with the porter cable Random Orbital I see on here? IF so, what else do I need to go through to make it better that a noob can do without wrecking it any further?



Thanks guys!
 
If you want to keep the cost down why not go with the Harbor Frieght DA--you can get it for about $50 with a 20% off coupon--then $15 for a 5" backing plate--the backing plate included with unit is of poor quality. The HF has more power than the PC and you can get a 2 year replacement warranty for $9. Here's a thread re the HF DA--- http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing-product-discussion/142910-harbor-freight-6-da.html



The Griot's Garage Da is the best in this class of products--has the most power and a lifetime warranty, but will cost about $130-140.



Then HD Polishes as Thomas suggested.
 
Like it all Pwaug, but the backing plate thing. For what he is wishing to do, it will be fine.

My HF and it's "plate" now have at least 10 to 13 hours on it and it is fine.

The "foam" or lambs wool pad is more important and the compound and polish combo.
 
Ron-- Only reason I mentioned replacing the BP -- there have been a couple of posts on other forums of the BP spindle spitting during use and sending the backing plate flying.
 
Thomas Dekany said:
http://www.autopia.org/forum/3d-high-definition-car-care/140886-uno-polish-speed-do-they-work.html



Is your paint anything like this 20 year old truck?
Click to expand...





There might be a few dime sized spots on the hood where the paint is a little worse, but generally, the paint it about in the condition your post showed...maybe a little better.



I am a bit of a tool junky and while I want to keep it 'cheap', I don't mind buying quality tools within reason. A 100-130 dollar DA would not be out of line since I could use it a lot. I need to go through your post a little more because im not sure what exactly I need to make the paint look like that, but that's what I'm after. If its anything close to your results, it will be great.



Is what you did really something an inexperienced person can do though with JUST a DA?



I have no idea what Griots PC is??



I know what the flex tool is but I don't know what 'polish' to use.



I know where to get HD UNO, but not sure what 'SPEED' is.
 
Get the HF pc, get some 3D black wool pads (5"), orange pads and black pads. 101/100 and HD POLISH will do the work.



step 1 - 101 or 100 with wool

step 2 - orange pad and 101/100

step 3 - hd polish and black pad.



Wax of your choice.
 
Thomas Dekany said:
Get the HF pc, get some 3D black wool pads (5"), orange pads and black pads. 101/100 and HD POLISH will do the work.



step 1 - 101 or 100 with wool

step 2 - orange pad and 101/100

step 3 - hd polish and black pad.



Wax of your choice.
Click to expand...



When you say "HF pc".....that's Harbor Freight.... What is "pc"?
 
Agdodge4x4 said:
I am a bit of a tool junky and while I want to keep it 'cheap', I don't mind buying quality tools within reason. A 100-130 dollar DA would not be out of line since I could use it a lot. I need to go through your post a little more because im not sure what exactly I need to make the paint look like that, but that's what I'm after. If its anything close to your results, it will be great.



Is what you did really something an inexperienced person can do though with JUST a DA?



I have no idea what Griots PC is??



I know what the flex tool is but I don't know what 'polish' to use.



I know where to get HD UNO, but not sure what 'SPEED' is.
Click to expand...



Here's a link to the Griots DA at Detailers Domain http://www.detailersdomain.com/Griots-Garage-6-inch-Random-Orbital-Polisher-3rd-Gen_p_682.html You will note that they have some nice package deals that include a 5" vented backing plate and 5 or 10 Uber foam pads--these are rebranded Buff & Shine pads and the same ones sold by HD--very good pads.



You can get HD Cut, Polish and Speed (an all in one with mild cut and some Poxy LSP) at Autoality.com (great shipping policy) or directly from HD.



Yes, these are the type of results you can get with a DA. I attribute my success as a recent beginner to machine polishing in a large part because of the advice given by Thomas, but feel as a beginner you are better off sticking with MicroFiber or foam pads to start before moving on to wool pads as it is much easier to find information on how to use these pads than wool.



Before you begin it's important to do some reading and watch some video's on how to properly use a DA, how to clean pads on the fly, etc, etc.
 
Thomas Dekany said:
Get the HF pc, get some 3D black wool pads (5"), orange pads and black pads. 101/100 and HD POLISH will do the work.



step 1 - 101 or 100 with wool

step 2 - orange pad and 101/100

step 3 - hd polish and black pad.



Wax of your choice.
Click to expand...



Where is the best place to purchase these items in a one stop site? (except for the polisher, i think I can figure out where to get that! :P)
 
Agdodge4x4 said:
Where is the best place to purchase these items in a one stop site? (except for the polisher, i think I can figure out where to get that! :P)
Click to expand...



You'll have to buy the wool pads at 3D International, LLC



You can get everything else Thomas suggested at https://www.autoality.com/store/pc/home.asp Orange and Black foam pads are Buff & Shine and they also have the 5" Backing Plate at the bottom of the page where the pads are listed.
 
Agdodge4x4 said:
When you say "HF pc".....that's Harbor Freight.... What is "pc"?
Click to expand...



People use "PC" as a generic term for that type of random orbital polisher.



Note that the "101" and "100" in Thomas' recommendation are Meguiar's brand products (unless I'm somehow mistaken).



Oh, and Welcome to Autopia!
 
Thomas Dekany said:
Get the HF pc, get some 3D black wool pads (5"), orange pads and black pads. 101/100 and HD POLISH will do the work.



step 1 - 101 or 100 with wool

step 2 - orange pad and 101/100

step 3 - hd polish and black pad.



Wax of your choice.
Click to expand...







OK...so I assume the M100/M101 (not sure which I need)...is for actually removing a little bit of paint away to get past scratches/swirls/nasty.



Orange Pad and the M101 Does what?



HD Polish actually polishes it to a shine?



Wax....protects?



IM working on a 2002 F-150.
 
100 is cheaper than 101 - your choice.



100/101 and orange pad will clean up after 100/101 and wool. HD POLISH will finish to a shine.



Yes, wax/sealant will protect what is underneath.
 
What kind of pad do I apply the WAX with? How do I 'buff it out'? Also, do you have a wax you recommend? All I have is Meguiars "cleaner wax". I don't know if thats OK or not.
 
OK...I think I got enough info. Got the Harbor Freight PC on sale, and with a 25% off coupon. It was about 50 bucks including shipping. Ill get the blue pads when I buy the others. I can get them at Autoality. Do you know WHICH backing plate I need from Autoality? THey have a few that are listed at 4.75" which I assume means '5 inch'?
 
Agdodge4x4 said:
OK...I think I got enough info. Got the Harbor Freight PC on sale, and with a 25% off coupon. It was about 50 bucks including shipping. Ill get the blue pads when I buy the others. I can get them at Autoality. Do you know WHICH backing plate I need from Autoality? THey have a few that are listed at 4.75" which I assume means '5 inch'?
Click to expand...



If you're going to get the Buff & Shine pads then use the B&S backing plate--it's on the same page as the pads near the bottom. You can also use the red pads to apply your LSP--they are very soft, but dense pores so they don't soak up much product.
 
What is SPEED and UNO? How do they fit in or compare to the original list with #100/101 and Poxy? Also, is there anything I can use in lieu of the Black Wool Pad that can be purchased on Autoality?
 
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